Our Weekly Tip: Hold a Beachside Memorial for Your Loved One

Our Tip of the Week:  Nothing captures the ephemeral nature of life more fully than the ebb and flow of the tide. Each day, the ocean rises to meet the land, drawn by unseen, inexorable forces we don’t fully understand. Later, just as predictably, the waters recede, taking with them a small piece of what was left in their path.

Credit: victoria-sand-writing.blogspot.com

How-to Suggestion: If you live near the ocean, consider a beachside memorial service to remember a loved one who has died. The ocean is a wonderful place to gather and share memories, and to connect in a meaningful way to the ebb and flow that is life and death.

Consult a tide table before sending your invitations, and chose a time when the tide is coming in to gather with your guests. Write your loved one’s name in the sand before your guests arrive. Then invite each person to add a word or two that symbolizes their relationship with the person who has died. Invite any children who are present to draw something that reminds them of their loved one, so they also have a chance to participate.

Credit: a journeywithwings.com

When the sand writing and drawing is complete, spend some time sharing memories over a simple meal, and watch as the tide comes in and slowly erases your words. You may wish to ask one of your guests to speak a bit about your loved one’s life at this time, or just join together in silent contemplation as you watch the last vestiges of your words disappear into the vastness of the sea.